Chair Robert Bley-Vroman called the meeting called to order at 3:07
p.m. He welcomed all to the new year and remarked that some very
important issues are on the agenda this year. The MFS will have the
opportunity to redefine its role in critical ways.

1. The Minutes of the May, 4, 2005 meeting were approved as
submitted.

2. Chair's Report - Bley-Vroman announced that SEC actions over
the summer are included in the SEC Summer 2005 notes, appended to the
agenda.

3. UARC Committee - delivery of Interim Report Bley-Vroman
introduced the UARC Committee and noted that SEC believes faculty wish
to have a reasoned debate on this issue. Recognizing that there are a
variety of impassioned views of ethical, economic, administrative
details, and there are questions related to collegiality and academic
freedom, etc. may make for a complicated discussion. Also, MFS needs
to understand exactly what is being proposed. The creation of the
ad-hoc UARC committee's charge was to look into all these issues and
to present an interim report. The report is appended to the agenda
but discussion will be scheduled at the next meeting on September
21st.

Calvin Pang (Law) member of the ad-hoc committee presented a
summary of the committee's activities this summer. First, the
committee raised questions which were sent to members of
administration, including Ostrander and Cutshaw for response. Chair
Sara Rutter created a website, www.hawaii.edu/uhmfs/uarc and posted
all relevant documents, questions and answers, opinions, etc. Finally
the committee created the Interim Report. Currently, the status of
the proposed contract is unclear; since no contract has been
finalized, therefore many remaining important details are unknown,
especially the details of a business plan. An independent attorney
was retained with funds from Ostrander's budget and the committee will
be provided more information from this source before Sept. 21.

3. Committee on Research Resolution - presented by David Duffy (NS)
The Resolution from Committee on Research Regarding Proposed Changes
to Board of Regewnts Policy 5-19 is attached to the agenda; this
resolution is related to a proposed policy change that was scheduled
for the September BOR meeting; however, the administration has now
withdrawn the item. A BOR-approved September 2004 policy which allows
researchers to use UH or RCUH to administer grants was never
implemented. HGEA was unhappy with this policy and negotiated a new
policy which would limit RCUH employment to one year (except for
specific named grants). The new policy would result in many current
RCUH employees losing employment or having to re-apply as UH
employees, with the result that they would lose pensions and other
benefits, and PI's would lose flexibility in hiring. The UH human
resource system is slow, and often takes up to 6 months to complete a
hire. Researchers are convinced that hiring through UH will make the
UH research enterprise uncompetitive. Research PIs and RCUH employees
were not consulted in the creation of the new policy.

Duffy read the resolution and moved for approval; it was seconded.
Discussion: David Erickson (ED) asked why the policy was to be
changed? Duffy responded there has been a contested case that has not
been resolved, and HGEA was involved. Bruce Liebert, (ENG), asked
about the numbers of RCUH staff that would have to be terminated if
the new policy is adopted. Duffy responded numbers are unclear, and
added that there are positions that would have to go to other unions
besides HGEA, so the issue is actually larger than HGEA. Tom
Schroeder (SOEST) provided an estimate of 700, but mentioned the
language of the new policy is complicated and provides that
conversions apply to those hired after certain dates and thus the
numbers involved is not readily available. He also noted that the new
policy originated from the system. Barry Raleigh (SOEST) asked if
other parts of the system objected. Duffy responded both Maui and
Hilo have indicated concern. John Madey (NS) asked if COR took any
advice from those knowledgeable about unfair labor practices. Duffy
responded there was no time to research this, given the short response
timeframe. Madey asked if there could be an opportunity to seek such
advice? Duffy(?) responded some employees of RCUH have already sought
legal advice and will most likely legally contest if the new policy is
adopted. Madey suggested soliciting opinion from Law faculty on this
matter. Roger Lukas (outgoing SOEST) noted that the September 04
policy had required representation of faculty interest, while the new
policy developers did not seek faculty input. He reminded all that
MFS should require a reasonable consultative input process. Bill
Lampe (SS) noted that Madey's suggestion is excellent but it should
have no impact on adopting the Resolution in front of senators today.
Sylvia Yuen (CTAHR) stated she supports the resolution but wants it
broadened to include all extramural grants. Mike Garcia (SOEST)
stated that this was discussed in COR but members decided they wanted
to respond to the issue in front of them directly and make a strong
statement, and thus, a broader statement had been removed. David
Erickson noted that College of Education runs many training grants
that would also be crippled by the new policy. Jim Tiles (A & H) asked
that the message via today's resolution go forward, and suggested that
COR be asked to bring another resolution forward regarding training
and the broader perspective at a later time.

5. Chair's Report on Interim chancellor and permanent chancellor
search Bley-Vroman reported that SEC decided to make significant input
this summer on the process for both interim and permanent chancellor
searches. The SEC was united in the desire to make clear that it was
in Manoa's best interest to begin the permanent chancellor search
soon, and also to have an interim appointment quickly. President
McClain had asked that the permanent President be selected first, so
that s/he could select the next permanent Manoa chancellor, but SEC
was philosophically opposed. The SEC argued that the chancellor
should not be seen as a "deputy" to the President. SEC also decided
that it was best if the interim chancellor not to be candidate for
permanent and further asked that sitting deans not be considered for
the interim position. SEC presented these ideas to the President and
the BOR. President McClain agreed to the procedure outlined by SEC
for the interim appointment. Denise Konan was selected and SEC was
satisfied with the choice and the process.

Discussion: Bev Keever, (Journalism) asked for public disclosure on
why the past chancellor was not re-appointed. Roger Lukas stated that
SEC had asked the same question. He also commented that the search
process should inform candidates what will be expected of them and how
they will be evaluated. Frank Sansone (SOEST) asked for an update on
the status of the search. Belinda Aquino (outgoing Pol Sci) asked why
the interim chancellor should not be considered for the permanent
position. Jim Tiles noted that the interim chancellor is to be
responsible for hiring her replacement and therefore should not
engineer his or her own appointment. Keever stated that the
restriction is a Presidential decision, not a BOR requirement. Lukas
noted that SEC wanted a Manoa-driven/faculty-led search for permanent
chancellor. Madey asked for more specifics on this idea. Bley-Vroman
said there were no details yet, but hopes when the search process is
outlined it should include the concept that faculty will be the
driving force. He also noted that we want to generate as large and
talented a pool of applicants as possible, and if the interim has been
given the seal of approval, wonders how many others would apply?
Judith Inazu (SS) asked about the authority for SEC to act for faculty
in the summer. Bley-Vroman responded that By-Laws give SEC this
authority. While it would have been possible to call an emergency
meeting of MFS over summer, it hasn't been tried and may not result in
a quorum. Lampe added that faculty can object to SEC's action. But
Lukas noted that a copy of the SEC memo on the search process was sent
out to all faculty over the summer and there was only one
response. Mary Tiles (non sen A & H) stated the memo was also
circulated by other means.

4. Denise Konan, Interim Chancellor Bley-Vroman introduced Denise
Konan, who received a round of applause. Konan provided the following
background: she had been happy in her faculty position and did not
seek the interim chancellor position. Although she initially declined
being considered, she soon saw that she had an opportunity to step up
and give back to an institution she loves. She noted that in her
dozen years at Manoa, she has moved up the ranks to full professor and
Chair of Economics, and served for three years with Karl Kim in the
chancellor's office involved with strategic planning, WASC special
visit, negotiated articulation agreements, and implementation of new
General Ed requirements. She recounted the unique and special
cultural, educational, ecological & environmental aspects of Hawaii
and its strategic goal to be globally connected.

Goals of her administration: First, given the highest enrollment on
record (a gain of 3000+ students since Fall 01) and class size/ class
offerings increasing while funding has not) she wants to make this the
"year of the student." Manoa has good rankings in some respects,
(i.e., diversity) and poor ratings elsewhere (i.e., retention,
graduation in 6 years, engagement in campus social life, etc. Also,
students rate their experience at Manoa as significantly below peer
institutions. MFS can help her staff review data, and recommend
strategies to improve student experience, assess student learning, and
build more research opportunities into our curriculum. She also wants
to improve the partnerships between Academic and Student Affairs and
take steps to further recognize and respond to the diverse needs of
the student body, especially the indigenous people of Hawaii.

Second, bring functionality to Chancellor's office?its still a new
office with new VCs, and it has a new independent role & identity. She
wants to advocate for Manoa interests as a large and complex
institution and demonstrate how we serve the state as the flagship
institution. She wants to eliminate confusion and duplication where
policy, procedures, and protocol are undeveloped, and to clarify
shared governance, and promote clear communication and leadership from
governance groups.

Third, after many years, Manoa is no longer experiencing cuts, and
she will focus on the budget. Funding will expand or contract
depending on how well we serve students as tuition goes up.
Transparency of budget is a priority and also the need to agree on how
to distribute tuition funds.

Fourth, she agreed to head up a national search to find her
successor. Faculty, deans & directors, kuulii council, and students
want to be deeply involved in the search. She wants to include all
stakeholders and hope that faculty will be generous here. Soon she
will be appointing a search chair, and is now taking nominees.

Fifth, Konan wants to celebrate who we are, have fun and build
community on campus, noting that community provides openings for
leadership, excellence, innovation.

Discussion and Questions: Mike Garcia (SOEST) commented that with
respect to the year of the student, it would be helpful to include and
reach out to staff because many students are turned off by staff who
are not problem solvers.

Ken Kipnis (PHIL) stated he chaired a committee on the
undergraduate student experience. Recommendations were adopted by the
MFS and forwarded to administration, but little was implemented.
Problems with freshmen and unclassified students were noted.
Specifically, for example, there is a need to designate classes for
freshmen and not allow them to filled by upperclassmen. We need a
locus of administrative responsibility for undergrads similar to
graduate division. We now have an explosion of responsibility but no
one looking at the larger picture.

Konan's Response: An Assoc VC for undergrad education is on the
charts now. We need to fill it, after the VCS position is filled.
(She asked for a copy of the Kipnis study.)

7. New Business: VCAA Neal Smatresk noted that the WASC visit
planned for this November has been postponed until at least 2007.
This provides opportunity for the chancellor's staff to focus on other
things besides WASC.

Mike Garcia asked about parking issues. Response: Administration
is looking at some improvements but limited by funding. At present
dorms must be the major focus.

Shana Brown (HIST) commented that the new student Bus pass at
discounted price is an excellent new resource.

Noel Kent (SOC SCI) commented that he's disappointed WASC isn't
coming this year. He had hoped the scheduled visit would keep us
honest.

Gay Satsuma (SHAPS) feels anxious over the state of our university.
The many interim appointments is an unsettling thing and makes it
difficult to implement new initiatives. She asked when a permanent
president would be selected? Response: Bley-Vroman has no details at
present? but it appears the Chair of BOR wants to start soon. It is
difficult for Manoa to take leadership on system presidential search.
Madey commented that the BOR may not be comfortable making decisions
and so they may not make them. He suggested that MFS have an annual
briefing with BOR to get to know them and offer to help them?a feeling
of connection may help. Aquino noted we get info too late to help
make decisions. She feels there is a structural flaw with
confidentiality rules, etc. Sansone commented that the degree of
secrecy around past presidential search and the unveiling of Dobelle
was unpleasant. Garcia mentioned that the new regent, Mike Dehealy,
is a UH grad and would be interested in MFS percepetions. Raleigh
(SOEST) noted that President Mortimer's search committee said he could
not be unveiled because he did not want his current institution to
know?and the same thing happened with Dobelle. He feels the search
process should not allow this because due diligence requires more
openness.

A motion to adjourn was made and seconded and the meeting was
adjourned at 5:30(?) pm.